Watch the short video above! At CrossReads, we believe that all dogs can be good dogs, and all owners can be great owners, all it takes is a little bit of training, lots of love, and of course, plenty of praise along the way.
The AKC created the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program: an expert-made training program designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together.
Canine Good Citizen is a 10-skill test that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners.
Many Insurance agencies, Hotels, homeowner associations recognize the canine good citizen program and shows that you have taken steps to have a well behaved dog by earning your AKC title with your dog. Also, the 10-skills taught and test for could be foundation skills for a potential therapy dog or start of a person service dog.
CGC is open to all dogs–purebred and mixed breed. There are no age minimums or limits for participating in the Canine Good Citizen program, because yes, you can always teach an old dog new tricks!
Our CGC group class is a 1 hour class once a week for 6 weeks. Our first week we discuss each test item with each class attendee. We will ask you what you think you and your dog will need the most help with. from the information the trainer customizes the group class syllabus to get you ready for the test.
Class includes:
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Clicker
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Sample size of treats
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CGC test handout
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Homework handouts
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CGC test at the end of the class
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All CGC paperwork needed to turn in to AKC for title
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Graduation & picture time
10-Skills Test items
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Accepting a friendly stranger
Evaluator approaches and pretends to shake hands with handler (hands 6- 12” apart). Evaluator does not touch dog. -
Sitting politely for petting
Evaluator pets dog; dog must show no shyness or resentment. -
Appearance and grooming
Evaluator inspects dog, combs or brushes lightly, examines ears and each front foot. -
Out for a walk
Handler takes dog for a short walk including right turn, left turn, about turn and stop. -
Walking through a crowd
Dog and handler walk close to several people; dog may show causal interest but not jump up. -
Sit and down on cue/Staying in place
Handler shows that dog can do both sit and down, then chooses a position, leaves dog and goes to the end of a 20 ft. line, and returns immediately. -
Coming when called
With dog still on 20 ft. line from Test 6, handler walks out 10 ft. and calls the dog. -
Reaction to another dog
Two handlers and dogs approach, pretend to shake hands (hands 6-12” apart), exchange pleasantries, then move on. -
Reaction to distractions
Distractions are presented; dog may not panic or show aggression.
10. Supervised separation
Handler goes out of sight for 3-min. Dog is held on a 6-ft. leash by an evaluator.
CGC Group Class
Price $300.00
What is AKC Community Canine?
AKC Community Canine is the advanced level of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program.
As with CGC, AKC Community Canine has a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Community Canine title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC. This class help put your and your dogs skills to the test around distractions. We give you the skills to understand what your dog says when you are in a public area and how to handle situations you may run into your dog while in public.
CGCA is open to all dogs–purebred and mixed breed. There are no age minimums or limits for participating in the Community Canine program, because yes, you can always teach an old dog new tricks!
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This class is a 1 hour per week 6 week class with the community canine being conducted on week six. Our first week we discuss each test item with each class attendee. We will ask you what you think you and your dog will need the most help with. from the information the trainer customizes the group class syllabus to get you ready for the test.
Prerequisite:
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The dog must have passed their CGC test before taking the AKC Community Canine test.
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Must have an AKC number of one of 3 types (AKC registration number, PAL number, or AKC Canine Partners number). All dogs, including mixed breeds, can get an AKC number. The reason for the AKC number requirement is that this is how we create titles at AKC; we attach the titles to the dog’s number. For more information on getting an AKC number, see: http://images.akc.org/cgc/number.pdf
Class includes:
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Clicker
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Sample size of treats
-
CGCA test handout
-
Homework handouts
-
CGCA test at the end of the class
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All CGCA paperwork needed to turn in to AKC for title
-
Graduation & picture time
CGCA Group Class
Price $300.00
10-Skill Test Item
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Dog stands, sits or lies down and waits under control while the owner:
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sits at the registration table and fills out paperwork, or,
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if the test is done in the community, dog waits while the owner sits and has a snack or visits with another person (e.g., at a park)
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Walks on a loose leash in a natural situation (not in a ring) — does not pull.
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left turn
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right turn
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stop
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fast and slow pace
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Walks on loose leash through a crowd:
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at a show or in class, this item is tested in a real crowd, not in a ring
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in the community, dog walks on sidewalk, through a crowd at a community fair, park, on a trail, through a busy hallway, etc.
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Dog walks past distraction dogs present; does not pull.
This item may be tested along with #3 if there are dogs in the crowd, etc.-
at a show or class, dog walks by dogs waiting in the crowd–dogs 2 ft. apart
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in the community, dog walks by other dogs on a trail, sidewalk, in a hallway, etc.
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Sit-stay in small group (two other people with dogs, total of 3 people, 3 dogs in group).
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Dog allows person who is carrying something (backpack, computer bag, etc.) to approach and pet it.
“May I pet your dog?” (Item is placed on floor/ground before the person pets the dog) -
“Leave it.” Dog walks by food and follows owner instructions, “Leave it.”
This can be food placed by the evaluator on the floor or ground in a food dish with a wire cover as in Rally. -
Down or sit stay — distance (owner’s choice).
Dog is on 20–ft line, owner walks away with back to dog, picks up an item (e.g., backpack, training bag, clipboard, folder etc.) placed on the floor/chair/ground by the evaluator and returns to the dog. -
Recall with distractions present (coming when called). Handler goes out 20–ft. **(off center) and calls dog.
Dog is on the 20–ft. line from #8 above. -
Dog will sit or stand stay (owner’s choice) while owner enters/exits a doorway or narrow passageway. Owner calls dog through door when ready.
Owner may also choose to:Whichever method is used, the dog must not pull the owner and must be under good control. Think of the handler having the leash in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Doorway or gate can be real or simulated with ring gates, two chairs, or a natural passageway (e.g., entrance to trail) in the community.-
send the dog through first and have the dog wait for the owner, or
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the owner may choose to have the dog go through the doorway at the owner’s side.
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AKC Urban CGC Test
as a Public Access Test
AKC Urban CGC is a title in the Canine Good Citizen family of awards and titles that also include AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen and AKC Community Canine.
AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in a setting that includes traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions that are present in a city or town. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC is a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.
AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings. The Urban CGC test can be used by dog- friendly business (e.g., lodging, retail, transportation, public facilities) to recognize and accept dogs with good manners.
The Setting:
All skills are tested on leash. AKC Urban CGC should be administered in a place where there are cars, streets to be crossed, noises, and distractions. This test is administered in the real world; it should not be simulated in a ring at a dog show.
When test items (such as riding on an elevator) are administered in public buildings, the buildings must be dog friendly or evaluators must have permission in advance from the business owners, managers, etc.
This class is a 1 hour per week 6 week class with the community canine being conducted on week six. Our first week we discuss each test item with each class attendee at our class room location. We will ask you what you think you and your dog will need the most help with. from the information the trainer customizes the group class syllabus to get you ready for the test. Unlike other classes you will need to travel to pubic locations for the other 5 weeks. Pubic Locations will be close to training facility and this group class will be small to make sure you get individual time with the trainer.
Pre-requisite:
To earn the AKC Urban CGC (CGCU) title, dogs must meet the following three requirements:
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Must already have a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate or title on record at AKC
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Must already have a Community Canine (CGCA) certificate or title on record at AKC.
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Must have an AKC number of one of 3 types (AKC registration number, Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) number, or AKC Canine Partners number). All dogs, including mixed breeds, can get an AKC number. The reason for the AKC number requirement is that this is how we create titles at AKC; we attach the titles to the dog’s number. Read more information on: http://images.akc.org/cgc/number.pdf
Passing the Urban CGC does not make a dog a service dog. A key distinction of service dog is that the owner/handler has a disability and the dog is tasked trained to mitigate or alert to that disability. It is unethical to misrepresent a pet dog as a service animal. If you are interested in your dog potentially being a service dog for you please contact us about our service dog program.
CGCU Group Class
Price $350.00
AKC Urban CGC Test Items
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Exit/enter doorway with no pulling in dog-friendly buildings. Exit building to start test, additional Public buildings items are below.
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Walk through a crowd on a busy urban sidewalk.
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People come toward the dog from 1-ft. away
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Tolerate distractions (people wearing hats, coats, men, women, etc).
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Appropriate reaction to city distractions. This includes movement, noises, and walking on a variety of surfaces. Examples:
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Noises: horns, sirens, construction noise, etc.
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Moving objects: skateboard, bike, carts, person running
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Surfaces: concrete, grass, grates, plastic tarp, wet sidewalk
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Crossing street: Stop at corner, stand or sit to wait and cross with no pulling (on leash, with owner). Crosses street under control.
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Ignore food on sidewalk. (Dropped food, or cups, bags, cans, in which food was wrapped).
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Person walks up and pets the dog. May be carrying an item such as a small dog in a bag, a computer bag, etc. Person does not put the bag down to pet the dog.
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Public Building (that is dog friendly). Walks under control in building (slick surface, carpeted floor). Down stay (3 min) in lobby or outdoor area, or waits while owner has a meal or snack.
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Stairs, steps, or elevator under control.
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Steps (at least 3 – up and down)
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Elevator (Enters under control, exits, rides under control)
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Housetrained for apartment, condo, city living. Owner may verify this item. Evaluator may also observe in public buildings, or have observed in training classes.
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Transportation. Owner’s choice depending on transportation needs.
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Car. Enters/exits, remains under control during the ride. (Crate? Seatbelt?)
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Subway. Small dog in bag for ride. (large dogs are not always permitted; know and abide by the Transit Policies in your area).
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Dog friendly (enters/exits or allows to be put in/taken out) under control.
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Class includes:
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Sample size of treats
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CGCU test handout
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Homework handouts
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CGCU test at the end of the class
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All CGCU paperwork needed to turn in to AKC for title
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Graduation & picture time